Evolution of the loqs2 gene encoding an Aedes specific dsRNA binding protein

Mosquito borne viruses, causing agents of diseases such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever and Chikungunya, are mostly transmitted by two urban-adapted mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Although mechanistic understanding remains largely unknown, Aedes mosquitoes may have unique adaptations that lower the impact of viral infection. Recently, we reported the identification of an Aedes specific double-stranded RNA binding protein (dsRBP), named Loqs2, that is involved in the control of infection by dengue and Zika viruses in mosquitoes. We generated RNAseq libraries from transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes engineered to express loqs2 ubiquitously to investigate the developmental arrest observed at larval stages in these transgenic individuals.